Right now the hitting is the dominant characteristic of this team. The Sox score more runs than anyone else in MLB. The nine wins in a row, including three at Yankee Stadium, are juggernaught-like.

But it's early and the pitching in my view is suspect. Not terrible, but suspect. Lackey or Wake could lose it in a heartbeat even though lately both have looked pretty good. Buchholz and Lester have both had several not so good games this year, both ERA's are up. Everyone in the bullpen--except the new lefty--has shown he can blow a lead, not once or twice, but several times. The closer's ERA is double what it was two years ago.

Right now the hitting is the dominant characteristic of this team. The Sox score more runs than anyone else in MLB. The nine wins in a row, including three at Yankee Stadium, are juggernaught-like. But it's early and the pitching in my view is suspect. Not terrible, but suspect. Lackey or Wake could lose it in a heartbeat even though lately both have looked pretty good. Buchholz and Lester have both had several not so good games this year, both ERA's are up. Everyone in the bullpen--except the new lefty--has shown he can blow a lead, not once or twice, but several times. The closer's ERA is double what it was two years ago. Posted by maxbialystock

Please do not use era for a closer yeah it is telling but so is 12 of 13 saves with a 2-0 record. He has also pitched in 4 of their losses in two he gave up no runs and the other two the runs he gave up had no effect on the loss.Lester's era is up because of 3---5 run and 1---7 run game in 14 starts other than that he has given up less than 4 or less in all othersClay in 13 starts has a 6 (just before he missed a start), and a 5 and 4 run game the first two of the year.As far as the rest I have faith in Albers and Aceves. I also believe Jenks and Wheeler will be better. As for Hottovy so far so good.

Yes Wake and Lackey could go at any moment but so could any one of them.Lackey has had 4 bad games two just before he went on DL. He also had a game he lost and gave up one run and now he has put together two decent games.Wake is Wake I'll still take him over any number 5 in the game.era does not tell all especially in how sometimes Francona will allow a pitcher some times stay in a game. You need to look at the whole and not just one stat

The Red Sox is nowhere without Lowrie and Ellsbury getting on base. Ellsbury was on base twice, Lowrie was sitting with a boo boo, so the Red Sox can't score without these two "gamechangers". Ortiz and AGon were not able to hit the long ball, which would have frightened the impotent offense of the Rays. They got confidence because Ortiz and AGon were off. Ellsbury on the bases didn't scare them, disrupt them or gamechange.

Crawbury on base twice. Once again, the team plays directly off AGon and Ortiz. Youk needs to step it up if one should hit a long slump. Crawbury scares no one. AGon and Ortiz frighten every team in baseball.